31 Things That Make Me Happy

24-The Daily Press Release for the 2006 Torino Winter Olympics (170 days away)

25-Really starting to form a plan for selling my house and moving downtown (even if it is a 3 year plan)

26-The new Cabelas. (Let me explain, I am not an outdoor enthusiast. In fact, I am quite allergic to the out-of-doors although I don’t hold it against Mother Nature and appreciate all she offers us. So, when a new store opens up with their own mountain, stream, fish pond, animal exhibits, etc. and I am left to think, “All the pleasure of the great outdoors, but I’m INSIDE!” If this isn’t God smiling on me, then I don’t know what is.”

27-Pictures of the great adventure to Minnesota (or was it Minnissippi or Missisota...my 3 year old niece was a tad confused.)

28-My “little” sister’s 30th Birthday Celebration...heehee, now she’s old, too

29-My 5-year-old nephew whispering (his eyes shining with excitement), “I start school tomorrow.”

30-Ellie by InsideOut

31-Dove Caramels with the inspiration saying inside

50 Books Update

I finally (and on my 3rd try) finished Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. I have to say that despite having to check it out from the library 3 times to finish it, I quite enjoyed it. An almost 80 preacher is dying and decides to write a letter to his 7 year old son detailing what kind of man his father was. My biggest problem was there were no chapters, no easy stopping points...and all the religion and theology (which I found absolutely fascinating, but still) made me very sleepy. So, it took a long time to get through it. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed it and agreed with a lot of the theological observations. Also it won the Pulitzer Prize, so you don't have to take my recommendation. 256 pages

I just now finished The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett. You'll remember I whole-heartedly recommend its sequel A Hat Full of Sky recently. I love the Nac Mac Feegle (They're small. They're blue. And nobody messes with them.) and think there should be many novels written about them and their exploits with the big wee hag, Tiffany Aching. 375 pages.

Next up, The Secret Life of Bees

34/50 12271/15000

I'm done

There are times in my life where all I can think is, "I'm done. I'm tired."

Times where I no longer have the energy to deal with what fate has conspired to throw at me. Times where nothing seems to matter enough to get excited, passionate about. Where I just want a little bit of peace; when I, for once, want it to be all about me. When friends and family stop bothering me with all their problems and concerns and listen to mine. Where they'll call and just say, "Let's go out to dinner, or a movie" or something, anything. When they'll drop their children and husbands for ONE LOUSY night and let me be their biggest concern.

I have fallen into the role of being strong and solving problems for everyone around me, but today, I'm done. I want someone to be strong for me; I want someone to solve my problems. I don't want to play anymore; I'm done.

31 Things That Make Me Happy

16-Little Stevie Oldfield’s movie reviews

17-Hearing the Cathedral bells when I'm leaving for lunch

18-Meeting my sister’s best friend from college. (Great sense of humor and loves to read!)

19-Getting my very 1st cell phone (I’m way behind, I know, but I just hate the idea of people being able to reach me anywhere. This one is for emergencies only!)

20-New pictures of an out-of-state friends 14-month old boy...such a cutie

21-Finding my relaxation tape so I’m sleeping well at night again

22-Old, unique beautiful architecture and the personality of downtown

23-Dinner at Pizza Factory with my sister

50 Books Update

The first time I read Terry Pratchett I was less than enthusiastic. It was a book about bending time, in fact, the title completely escapes me. So, when I started seeing A Hat Full of Sky on other’s “50 Books” lists I was understandably under whelmed.

While visiting my local library last week, there it was in the “New Release” display. I picked it up read the description and being in between books actually on my list thought, “Well it won’t kill me to read it.”

So, I took it home and started reading. Within 5 pages I was hooked. Turns out, I do like Terry Pratchett.

Do you remember how I’ve lamented that I’ve yet to find a book I would whole-heartedly recommend to everyone I meet? This is it. I loved the Wee Free Men and think nasty, thieving, drinking, fighting, fiercely loyal, completely amusing fairies with a rough edged brogue should be in every book! Loved it! Loved it! Loved it! 278 pages

32/50 11645/15000

Update

3 cracked ribs, lots of bruises and an amazing emotional toll. Mine are home, safe, basically intact.

The young mother did have a pulse, the baby (3 weeks old) was unhurt. Thank God for small favors. Unfortunately, one family cannot say that tonight.

Images

"She doesn't have a pulse; I can't find a pulse! Oh, God, there's a baby. Oh my God! There's a baby!" screams the voice on the phone.

"What! Where are you! What happened!" I yell back.

"We were in a car crash, at least 12 cars, at least 2 fatalities."

"Are you okay? Are you guys alright?"

The next 2 hours are a blur of frantic phone calls, voice mail messages, and confusion.

My guys are all alive, but I'm shaken by the image of a young mother with no pulse, her baby unconscious in the back seat. I can't imagine the pain of those who were there.

31 Things That Make Me Happy

11-Air conditioning

12-Purple Turtle pink sauce

13-My 3-year-old niece exclaiming, “Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about!” as she fits the next piece into her Sesame Street puzzle.

14-“The Bunny” song from Veggie Tales sing-a-long

15-Planning a quick getaway to St. George to Tuacahn and Ancestor Square.

50 Books Update

I finished re-reading Trace by Patricia Cornwell. There will be a new Scarpetta book out this fall and I wanted to refresh my memory. Again, it is lacking when compared to her early work, but a much needed improvement from her more recent projects. No werewolves in sight, Thank God! 448 pages

31/50 11367/15000

Peach Cherry

Last night, I stopped over at my folk’s house to chat and hear the happenings of the day. While there, an old family friend (I hadn’t seen him in years) stopped by to chat. He is enormously talented in music, film and poetry. He spent most of his life producing the LDS Church’s films.

When we were little, he would show up now and then with a projector, his latest movie, and a variety of candy and treats for us little ones. We would spread a blanket on the living room floor, pop popcorn and watch movies, projected onto the wall. Then, he would pull out his latest songs and play the piano and sing with us. Those were some of the best times of my life. Clear, happy memories from my childhood...most of them involve “Peach Cherry”.

“Peach Cherry” (whose name we could not pronounce when we were small and so he was christened “Peach Cherry”) was born in either Poland or Germany (the borders have long been disputed) shortly before World War II. His family fled the Nazi invasion and fortunately made it to the U.S. Once grown, he risked everything again to smuggle Church and other literature behind the Iron Curtain. I always knew this, but never really appreciated the significance until last night.

Last night, 3 of the nubbins were at the house and someone made mention that all the cousins have someone their age to play with. “Peach Cherry” simply said, “That’s great. We sort of lost everyone, what with the death camps, the refugee camps and everything.” He said it so casually, but it really hit me hard. Something I always knew about him, but never thought about the reality of living through it.

An amazing man, truly one of the most amazing people I have ever been blessed to meet.

31 Things That Make Me Happy

4-My Mom’s Chicken Salad

5-Listening to old answering machine messages of my (then) 18 month old niece saying my name for the first time and a message from my (then) 3 year old nephew that say, “Hi Caoimhe, Happy Berff-day!”

6-Watching Wait Until Dark late at night; scaring myself to death in the process.

7-The Space Shuttle Discovery landing safely and the Russian submarine being rescued without casualties.

8-Finding out nubbin #10 will be a girl.

9-A visit from “Peach Cherry”

10-The Ghiradelli chocolate a co-worker brought me from her trip to San Francisco.

31 Things That Make Me Happy!

Thanks to Stephanie for bringing this to my attention; I'll be updating throughout August.

1-New Books (and recommendations for new books)

2-When PBS airs “A Hot Dog Program” (I don’t even like hot dogs; I haven’t eaten one in at least 20 years, and yet, when this program is on...I start thinking about planning a trip to the great hot dogs joints around the country.)

3-Listening to this!

5 Things

1- Delta has revamped their entire website and now I can’t find ANYTHING! They really should have consulted with me about this.

2- My roommate called off the wedding that was scheduled for Thursday. I don’t really know much about the specifics, but I’m glad they figured it out 5 days before rather than 5 days after.

3-I got a letter form a former employer who we shall refer to as “Satan’s Summer Home”. They apparently had taken Social Security taxes out of the paychecks, shall-we-say, illegally. That, of course, is not the language they used, but still. Anyway, since they didn’t figure it out until now, I am only eligible for the refund of 9 months of 2002. This means I lost thousands of dollars for the previous years I worked for them. They also want me to wait 6 months to a year before they’ll refund the money. I talked to the HR person and she says I can file a refund myself, if I’d like. I’m going to ask them to also reimburse me the cost of hiring someone to prepare that return. Does anybody have any experience with this? Can anyone tell me how far I can push this and what I can demand? Obviously, I didn’t leave on good terms and would really like to get my money as fast as possible while making them as miserable as possible.

4- I replaced all four tires in May, and sadly, drove over a nail on Sunday and it went straight through the sidewall. It cost another $55 to replace the nail-punctured tire. Grrr! I hate stuff like that. Good thing my roommate isn’t moving out and I’ll still have the extra money. *yay*

5-I am half-heartedly looking for a new job and check the Federal Government site every now and then. On the homepage they display a picture of a happy federal employee and, I admit, I have a crush on one of them. I think they should list his stats so I can find a job with that department.